Learning the Music

Ernest Shepherd, my great great grandpa, was born into a large, musical family in 1871.  His father and mother had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prior to his birth and the family moved from their home in Fawley, England to Paris, Idaho when he was six years old.  Good with his hands and with a love of music, Ernest carved and whittled his first violin from a wooden orange crate, He took a few lessons and learned to play on his own.  His daughter, Ada, remembered falling asleep in her upstairs bedroom to the sound of her father’s violin and other members of the orchestra who had come to practice for upcoming events and dances.  Ada learned to play the piano and Sunday afternoons were full of music at home while visitors came and went.  She remembered that as they played on those Sunday afternoons, “he insisted on every note being just right, always patient with me, and we loved the Sunday afternoons together.”

I can imagine a little girl falling asleep to the sweet melody of her Father’s violin.  Yet, he didn’t want that to be her only experience with music so he patiently taught her through every mistake to hit each note correctly, and become a musician herself.  As she grew she joined the orchestra and they played together at events throughout the year.  
 
Our Father plays the sweet melody of redeeming love.  While it is beautiful to hear, He doesn’t just want us to be hearers only and entreats us to come follow, come practice, come play, come learn the music of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He wants us to play with Him the beautiful strains of redemption, eternal life and joy.